Action for Animals 5/21
Right whales, wildness, and cyanide bombs...
I participate in service on behalf of animals because they cannot make any decisions about their own fates at this point in planetary and national history, and because taking these actions keeps me out of despair and into active hope, as Joanna Macy would suggest.
A new bill is being voted on TODAY in the House to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule…even though the USDA is already in the process of dismantling it. Evidence shows that when roads are introduced into protected forests, ecosystem degradation inevitably occurs. There have been no public hearings, so people have been taking things into their own hands. Call your rep ((202) 224-3121) and tell them you reallllly support the Roadless Rule!
Here’s a great tool to assess how your representatives vote regarding conservation and public lands from More Than Just Parks
There are less than 400 North Atlantic Right Whales (so named because they were the “right" whale to hunt for fuel in whaling’s heydey…and they still out here because of the Marine Mammal Protection Act) left in the wild, but NOAA is considering rolling back vessel speed restrictions that are proven to great reduce whale strikes. 23 North Atlantic Right Whale calves were born this year…and young whales are the ones most often found in vessel strike strandings. Let’s give these little babies a chance by commenting AGAINST repealing vessel speed limits by June 2nd!
sample language for your public comment from NRDC. MOST effective to use the public comment link above, but use the language from here!
The Bureau of Land Management is about to bring back the use of cyanide bombs to kill predators on 245 million acres of public lands, which was banned in 2024 thanks to efforts by the Center for Biological Diversity.
What are cyanide bombs? From CBD: “M-44s — more descriptively called “cyanide bombs” — are inhumane, spring-loaded traps that spray sodium cyanide into the faces of unsuspecting wildlife lured by their sweet, scented bait. Any creature — or person — who pulls on the baited trigger can suffer tortuous poisoning followed by a slow, agonizing death or severe injury.”
Tell the BLM you’re horrified by this here or, in more detail, here. But you know me- I’m calling!
Speaking of the BLM website- they proudly declare they’re streamlining permitting in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, which reminds me: we are still pushing for no oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic Wildlife National Refuge!
Donate to Earthjustice to support their important work pushing back against ICE warehouses!
NEW YORKERS: Kathy Hochul is trying to weaken NY’s banner climate law. (h/t Ayana Elizabeth Johnson for a great op-ed in Time!) Here’s a great action from 350 Brooklyn:
Last Thursday, Governor Hochul held a press conference to announce a budget deal. Speaker Heastie immediately clapped back, saying there was no deal. By Friday he walked back his initial ire, but no deal came together over the weekend. Another extender was passed this week and rumor has it there will be a budget deal next week.
Use these scripts from NY Renews to call Speaker Carl Heastie & Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
Use this Assembly Member lookup tool and this AM phone directory to find your NY State Assembly Member’s phone contact info.
Then use this sample script to call on your Assembly Member to shore up the State’s commitment to climate action and a sustainable future:
“Hi, I’m a constituent and I’m calling to urge ______________ to reject climate law rollbacks and to talk to leadership about including $3 billion dollars for the Sustainable Future Program, the full ASAP Act, and increased protections and funding for disadvantaged communities in the budget.”
Be sure to thank them for taking your call and provide your ZIP code and address if asked or include it in your voicemail.
Let’s GOOOOO!
Love you!
Perrin